Workbox



June 23, 1925. 1,543,492

G. E. BILTON WORKBOX Filed Dec. 18, 1922 In ventq'r.

Patented June 23, I925.

niren STATES GEORGE E. BILTON, OF TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA.

Application filed December 18, 1922. Serial No. 607,634.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, Gnonen E. BILTON, a subject of the King of Great Britain, and resident of the city of Toronto, county of York, Province of Ontario, in the Dominion of Canada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Vforkboxes, de scribed in the following specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, that form part of the same.

The principal objects of the invention are to provide a work box with hinged covers which will be ri idly supported in an open position and the operation of either one of which will automatically open or close the other, the operating members being concealed on the inside of the box, and further to device a portable work box of neat and attractive appearance.

The principal feature of the invention consists in the novel arrangement of a pair of pivotal links connecting said covers and of guiding blocks arranged within the box whereby either link is operated to swing the opposite cover by the movement of the other cover.

In the drawings, Figure l is a vertical sectional view of the work box showingthe covers in their closed position.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view showing the covers partly open and full open in dotted lines.

Figure 8 is a perspective view of a modification in the form of a work table showing a work box on either side and the covers in their open posit-ion.

In previous forms of work box stands provided with two covers it has been customary to hinge the covers to a central bar I or handle support but in such constructions the covers cannot be left open. In cases where the covers are hinged at the outer sides it is necessary to provide supports for the covers when in the open position and these are unsightly and undesirable.

In the construction I have devised, the covers 1 and 2 are hinged at the outer edges 3 and 1. Link members 5 and 6 pivotally connected together at their inner ends are pivotally connected at their outer ends to the covers midway of their width.

Blocks 7 and 8 having faces 9 and 10 sloping inwardly and downwardly from the edges of the box are securely fastened to the end 11 of the work box and a block 12 centrally arranged is provided with an apron 13 which extends downwardly to meet the blocks 7 and 8, thus forming a guard to prevent articles from getting between the blocks. The lower edge 14; of the block 12 (shown in dotted lines) is arranged slightly higher than the level of the side edges of the work box. The link members 5 and 6 extend beneath the block 12 and the inner ends are supported thereby, said links resting intermediate of their length. upon the edges of the box sides and rigidly supporting the covers in their extended position.

In Figure 3 of the drawings I have shown a work table 15 provided with work boxes 16 and 17 on either side, the covers 18 being connected together by links members 19 and 20 of greater length than but operating in the same manner as the link members 5 and 6.

'The link members 19 and 20 extend inwardly from the covers through slots in the side panels of the table, the inner ends being free to operate between the back of the drawers and rear panel of the table.

.Vhen the box is to be closed, either of the covers is swung upwardly on its pivot and the link connected therewith pivots against the underside of the block 12 and acts as a lever against the other link which pivots on the edge of the box and swings the other cover upwardly. This action continues until the secondary link lies fiat against the sloping face of the adjacent block 7 or 8. The continued swinging of the one cover exerts a pushing action through its connected link against the bottom end of the companion link, causing said companion link to pivot on the lower end of the block 7 or 8, thus swinging the other cover further inward and eventually drawing it down to its closed position.

In opening, when either cover is raised the link first engages the bottom edge of the block 7 or 8 and pulling upwardly on the bottom end of the other link it opens the other cover. The primary link pivots about the bottom edge of the block until it rests against the sloping face 9 or 10 and it then pivots on the upper edge, thus swinging the inner ends of both links until they assume a horizontal position abutting the bottom of the block 12.

The action is extremely simple and the parts are easily made and connected together but they are very positive in operation and the covers are very rigidly supported in their extended position enabling their use as table extensions if desired. By providing a device such as described the handling of the covers of a work box is greatly facilitated and the annoying feature of the cover constantly falling down is obviated.

What I claim as my invention is 1. In a work box, the combination with the covers hinged to the sides of the box, of a pair of free pivotal links connected together at their inner ends and connecting said covers, and means fixed to the box end slidably engaging said links and forming pivots to engage said link at variable points above and below to effect the operation of either cover with the movement of the other cover.

2. In a work box, the combination with the covers hinged to the sides of the box, of a pair of pivotal links connecting said covers, guide members arranged below and engaging said links in sliding fulcrum contact, guide members arranged aborre and engaging said links in sliding fulcrum contact, said fulcrum contacts presented by the guide members being adapted to translate the movement of one of said covers to the other through said link members to open and close said covers in unison.

3. In a work box, the combination with the covers hinged to the sides of the box, of link members pivoted to said covers intermediate of their width and pivotally connected together at their inner ends, a guide member secured to the end of the box and adapted to engage said links to hold them in a horizontal position, and guide blocks sloping downwardly and inwardly from the outer sides of the box.

I. 111 a work box, the combination with the covers hinged to the sides of the box, of a pair of links pivotally connected at their outer ends to the inner sides of the covers intermediate of their width and pivotally connected together attheir inner ends, a block having a horizontal lower edge arranged slightly above the level of the side edges of the box and adapted to form a rest to support said links in a horizontal position when the covers are extended, said block having an inner apron extending downwardly, and a pair of angular blocks having sloping surfaces extending clownwardly and inwardly from the outer edges of the box and meeting the lower portion of the apron and forming a guide for said links.

GEORGE E. BILTON. 

